Shameless Begging.  I apologize but it had to be done.  I have been working on this idea for awhile and  an absolutely fabulous property has come up for sale.  Funding however is scarce and I am in a bit of a jam.
The Pitch.  My plan is purchase an organic farm in New England and fix it up to be fully accessible.  The farm that I have found is certified organic and has acres of organic apple orchards.  There is a beautiful wooded area behind the orchards which, if safe walkways were installed, would make a  great place for  walking or wheeling about  in nature.  During Harvest time in the Fall my plan is to offer pick-your-own apples for folks who would like some hands-on time in the orchards.  All trees will have signs labeling varieties of apples with pictures (for my cixelsid friends), large print and braille.  For those who would rather enjoy the fruits of other people's labor we  will have fruits and veg, both fresh and dried, in our small farm store.
The Retreat. We plan to help make accomodations available in the original farmhouse and there is the possibility that cabins might be built in the future if needed.  There are also some great spots to pitch a tent (no laughing please) such as in the woods or the field near the duck pond.  Since the farm is less than 2 hours from Boston, the real world would not be too far away for those that only want a small dose of country living.
The Fun. The possibilities for fun are endless.   We intend to make our own hard cider and apple brandy.  Cheers!  There is an amazing pine-floored loft with old exposed wooden barn beams and windows with fabulous views of the orchard.  The loft has lots of room for dancing and the acoustics are great for live bands.  Can you picture it?  We could have a total Ouch! party; Mik Scarlet rocking out with Scarlet Messiah (with Caroline O'Neill signing the lyrics for us of course), Francesca Martinez taking a turn at the mike doing stand-up comedy, Salsa dancing with Kate Ansell, having a pint with our messageboard buds.  Hooked yet?  Sounds like heaven right? (Well a noisy, sweaty heaven full of fellow crips drinking hard cider......but it's organic so it's good for you right?).
The Rub.  I just can't scrape together enough funds just now.  I can gather up some of the money but really need some support to make this a fully realized dream.  (Hey Timmargh, you still on good terms with your Rich Uncle? hehehe).  I would love to know if others are interested (is there really a demand for such a thing?) and of course if you know of anyone looking to give to a good cause (Crip fun is a 'good cause' right?).

Comments

[Lbarbs]

Great idea! I'm afraid I'm skint so don't look at me for money :(

Make sure you make it a registered charity then you can get Gift Aid (w00t) and stuff

[Rebecca]

OOoo, sounds like a lovely idea. Will happily throw a quid or two in your general direction... bring on the paypal button!

Am lamusica from Ouch, btw.

[Gimpy Mumpy]

Later today I will be setting up a PayPal account for those who wish to donate toward the retreat.
I should have done this yesterday but had an emotional morning at the spine docs and after that my mind just shut down. Thanks for all of you who have voiced an interest! Any ideas are welcome.

[Gimpy Mumpy]

An advocacy group would be great. The more voices, the louder we are; the louder we are, the more likely to be heard. Let's join forces!

[Katie Fraser]

Hi Mumpy, Yeah you told me this on my blog didn't you?
I love the idea but even more since you said Mik Scarlet would be headlining the music. Rock on! Yeah!
I don't know about trying the cider but I am open to persuasion. How's about forming an advocacy group too? What do you and others think? Check my blog as Questions Like Timmargh are on there and want to know more about you so can live in the village with you!

[SoulSniper]

If you have a PayPal account, i'll donate to your fund. I'm poor, so it won't be a great amount, but every little helps eh? :-)

I'll probably never be able to visit, but you could send me some Cider :-D

[The Goldfish]

It is a lovely idea and I hope you can make something happen. Unfortunately I am without funds or wealthy relatives. The only thing I can suggest is getting some sort of grant or charitable sponsorship. I don't know what might be available in the US. I don't know how you would go on for creating your own charity and raising funds?

[Gimpy Mumpy]

Forgot to mention, the farm is a mile from a gorgeous lake where adventurous folks could go boating or swimming. I was thinking of teaming up with the local university to run some training/learners programs on disabled kayaking and canoeing.
We could make lessons and equipment rental available.
Snowshoeing, sledding and cross-country skiing would also be options for the winters.
For xtreme vacationers there is Tandem Skydiving offered within a 1-2 hours drive from the farm and Whitewater Rafting within 3 hours.